No2 / May 2008
CHAIRMAN’S NEWS AND VIEWS
A recent Guardian newspaper article – headlined ‘Green v Green’ – reported on the dilemmas faced by objectors to planning applications that have an impact on the environment. Its main thrust was to highlight ‘how environmentalists are lining up against each other in countryside battles’. Only the day before this I had an e-mail from the RSPB’s Planning and Local Government Officer forCentral England, Colin Wilkinson, saying the RSPB would no longer object to the proposed wind farm on Carsington Pastures when an appeal to the original negative decision is heard in July. After being notified of the appeal, I replied to Colin’s e-mail with a list of my continuing concerns about this project and how I thought nothing had really changed. For the RSPB they obviously have, however, so I phoned him to express my concerns, which prompted him to write a letter. I thought it worth sharing this with you – the CBC membership, many of whom are also RSPB members – so that, ahead of the appeal, you can see for yourselves the reasons for the RSPB’s change of mind.
Such predicaments are becoming increasingly frequent, according to the Guardian, which illustrates the point by detailing a much bigger wind farm scheme on the Isle of Lewis. ‘What is clear’, the newspaper says, ‘is that all energy-generation technologies have an impact on the environment and environmentalists are going to have to think more deeply about what their hierarchy of priorities is.’ I think this is obvious to everyone concerned in such projects.
The RSPB is now satisfied by further ornithological survey work and, more critically, its limited resources mean only some ‘contests’ can be taken on. In the scale of environmental controversies, Carsington is not that important in national terms and the RSPB is a national body. Carsington Bird Club, however, has local concerns at its heart, so I think we should continue to take interest and, if needs be, still oppose it. I will bring this up at the next committee meeting and would like to hear from anybody with views about the appeal. I will go to this hearing and will speak if appropriate – but only after thinking more deeply about it.
In the meantime, here is the letter – and, as I say, any views from members are welcome …
Carsington Pastures Wind Farm – the RSPB’s view
Dear Members — You probably know that West Coast Energy wants to build four large wind turbines at Carsington Pastures, a mile north of the reservoir. The RSPB objected to the planning application, which was refused, but we are now withdrawing our objection and we will not be offering evidence at the Public Inquiry scheduled for early July. Your chairman has kindly offered me a chance to explain the RSPB’s views on a case I am sure is of great interest to many of you.
The RSPB objected because of the completely inadequate effort made to survey wintering birds flying over the site. The consultants completed only 14 hours of observations, in just two months out of the normal 6-month winter period for this kind of work. This fell far below standards of best practice, and the RSPB could not be certain there would be no impact on Carsington Water’s bird populations. The Council refused the application for six different reasons, including the lack of information about wintering birds. The RSPB agreed to present evidence at the Public Inquiry unless the appellant produced additional survey data to a specified standard and we could conclude there would be no significant impact on birds.
On17 April 2008, the appellant sent us the results of 72 hours of additional surveys of wintering birds, completed between September 2007/April 2008. Added to the work done previously, this is more than double what the RSPB asked for. Although they did not use that data to complete a collision risk assessment, we decided that the numbers of birds recorded were so small that any risk assessment would show an insignificant level of risk for bird populations at the reservoir. It would have been perverse for the RSPB to carry on pressing the appellant to complete a risk assessment under these circumstances, as well as diverting the Society’s resources when defending several internationally important sites from damage by wind farms both in the region and nationally.
The basis for the RSPB’s objection therefore no longer exists, and it is no longer appropriate for the RSPB to appear at the Public Inquiry. Several other reasons for refusal of this application (notably, landscape impacts) still stand. Other organisations are preparing to give evidence for the Council on these matters, including the Peak District National Park Authority. However, because visual impacts do not have any effect on bird populations, the RSPB is not able to give evidence on this issue.
I hope this open letter explains why we have taken these actions. Even though we are no longer objecting to this proposal, we have won an important concession from the developer, just in terms of the quality of the environmental assessment. The RSPB is involved in over 1,000 planning cases annually to protect important wildlife sites, and the need to base decisions on good environmental information is often a critical issue in those cases.
Colin Wilkinson – Planning Officer, RSPB Midlands Region
SUMMER VISITORS ARRIVE – ACCOMPANIED BY FIRST-EVER AVOCETS
The period since the last newsletter has been that joyous time when our summer visitors arrive; it’s always fun to see how early the newcomers drop into the Carsington site. Swallows were ten days earlier than ever recorded before, on 15 March alongside Sand Martins – and a pair of Avocets, the first formal record at the reservoir of the RSPB’s insignia species.
House Martins and Wheatear arrived at the end of March, while Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs noted in early-mid March could have been over-wintering birds, but the real rush came in April, with greater numbers of those warblers, plus in chronological order Swift (5th), Yellow Wagtail (11th), Grasshopper Warbler (14th), Tree Pipit (19th), Lesser Whitethroat (23rd), Sedge Warbler and Whitethroat on the 24th, and Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler the following two days. Pied Flycatchers arrived in early May, and that archetypal spring bird the Cuckoo was logged on 4 May, the first Carsington record since 2004.
Monthly species counts have generally been up on the previous few years, and other significant highlights have included the long-staying Great Northern Diver which had gained summer plumage by April. Having graced Carsington for the first time in March, Avocets reappeared in April (see photos on website), and Ospreys were seen briefly on two occasions – firstly in March when this stately bird was mobbed by Oystercatchers. A Red Kite was seen in early May, and Peregrines are becoming increasingly regular visitors, while during the spring Barn, Little and Long-eared Owls have all been recorded.
In fact, a Long-eared Owl roosted onStoneIslandin such an obvious position it delighted many walkers before deciding it was too public a position to get any rest!
While the gull roost diminished, terns arrived in good numbers during April with up to 18 Arctic Terns noted on both the 20th and 24th, while a Black Tern passed through on 8 May. Little Terns were also recorded in April, when this theme continued as Little Egret and Little Gulls turned up. Waterfowl highlights included a Pink-footed Goose among the ‘locals’, Whooper Swans in March, plus Common Scoters and Red-breasted Mergansers.
VENTURING OUTDOORS – TO A QUIETER-THAN-USUAL DAWN CHORUS
After the final indoor meeting of the year, in March, when the ever-entertaining Mick Muddiman themed his talk and slides around ‘Within these Shores’, we moved outdoors and risked the cool, damp spring weather. On 15 April, 19 people, led by recorderRoger Carrington, set off aroundStonesIsland. Between hail storms, the group located two Yellow Wagtails and a distant Great Northern Diver, also enjoying close views of a singing Willow Warbler and, from the shelter of the Wildlife Centre, a trickled arrival of Curlew totalled 15 before the light went.
Twenty hardy souls braved this year’s Dawn Chorus walk, starting as4.30am. It was a beautiful morning – calm, clear, and becoming warm – but despite 42 species logged, there was a lot less singing than usual for this time of the day (and year). Those who did add to the chorus were Wood Pigeon, Robin, Wren, Song Thrush, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Blackbird – the latter also heard ‘mocking’ something. On investigation this turned out to be a tawny owl deep in foliage, which quickly flew off. Another highlight, seen from the Wildlife Centre over breakfast was a first summer Little Gull.
RESCUE RANGERS!
On 24 May, Severn Trent rangers were super quick to respond to an alert that a Mallard duck was in distress – caught up in the netting provided to keep predators off the ‘tern rafts’ in front of the Wildlife Centre. It was very, very windy and the bird had probably been blown into it and become entangled. Within 10 minutes a rescue boat was dispatched from the Watersports Centre, and it was quite an audience in the Wildlife Centre that witnessed the dramatic rescue as the boat eased slowly towards the rafts, coming round the long way, so as not to disturb any breeding birds.
As they approached the left hand raft, the rangers spotted the distressed bird and carefully cut away a section of the netting, allowing them to lift the Mallard onto the boat. After a few minutes of diligent disentangling, the rangers had freed the duck from the nylon mesh, and pronounced the temporary prisoner fit and well. The male bird was then deposited on the edge of Horseshoe Island and waddled off, none the worse for his ordeal.
“It may all be in a day’s work for the rangers, but those of us who witnessed the rescue were impressed at how quickly they responded; the children in the hide were particularly pleased their injured duck was safe and well,” said Richard Pittam, clubman and CBC webmaster, who was among the onlookers in the Wildlife Centre.
POLAND OFFERS UNIQUE LANDSCAPE – AND LOTS OF SPECIAL BIRDS
Anyone wanting to see a great variety of special birds and unique countryside should visit north-east Poland– around three hours drive north of Warsaw, and an area I’ve wanted to visit since a boy. In early May, I stayed for four nights in the vicinity of the Biebrza marshes and another four nights in the Bialowieza primeval forest, seeing or hearing 156 bird species together with regular views of Elk, Red Squirrel and a close-up of a Beech Marten among other mammals.
The marsh area is the most intact floodplain left in centralEuropeand comprises dense flood forests, mysterious alder woods, flowery river dunes and open sedge marshes. Cranes were seen every day and their call is a constant sound there at this time of year. So too were the large numbers of the three marsh terns, especially the very attractive White-winged Black Tern, plus three species of goose, twelve duck, a Black-throated Diver and all the Grebe species, while three Harrier and three Eagle species gave great views throughout the week. During one stop alone, we saw 15 White-tailed Eagles, an Ortolan Bunting and the most obliging Black Woodpecker ever, which decided to pop its head out of a nest hole in a classic pose just as we took our morning coffee break, prompting a rapid volley of photos.
Other stars were Ruff, with the males in wonderful breeding plumage, Yellow Wagtails galore and Great White Egrets. Fieldfare are the most common form of breeding thrushes, with fully fledged young and Thrush Nightingale seem the most common singing bird, though that may be because of the power of their voices.
There was no shortage of Bitterns booming, Corncrakes ‘crex-crexing’ and Spotted Crake ‘whisping’ – but no sightings despite diligent watching. Cuckoos were also everywhere and seen several times. Despite all these gems the two stars had to be two very small birds – Penduline Tit and Aquatic Warbler. We saw the tit’s incredible nest half built, then returned to the same spot three days and were rewarded with close-up views of the birds putting the finishing touches to the nearly-complete nest. Meanwhile,Europe’s rarest breeding warbler gave us a supreme show at dawn when several sang atop foot-high sedges. At the same spot, an hour from our hotel, we saw no fewer than five elk (moose, inAmerica) grazing in the bog.
Onto Bialowieza: with its larger extension inBelarus, this is the last remnant of the primeval forest that once covered a large part of centralEurope. We stayed in a village that typically had large numbers of nesting Storks including a pair beginning their nest outside our rooms; there were also Hawfinch in numbers, Whinchat and Rosefinch sang, and a single Barred Warbler and Icterine Warbler arrived on our last morning.
But the forest itself is the star and, as a ‘strict reserve’ must be seen courtesy of a compulsory guide. At one stage we stopped to see a pair of White-backed Woodpeckers – the largest of the black and white species – fly from their nest hole to a nearby branch to mate. ‘Collared’ are the common flycatchers, with only a few Pied seen, and the white-headed version of Long-tailed tit is even cuter than our own.
A late evening trip to a marsh was organised to see the display of Great Snipe. Though we saw them only fleetingly after negotiating a knee-deep slog, it was all worth it, with much better views of Pygmy Owl and Hazel Grouse. The mammalian stars, though – the last European Bison and Beaver – eluded us.
On the final day we visited a large reservoir only a mile from theBelarusborder: Our target was a Citrine Wagtail at the western edge of its range. One was soon found close to the path, and the wonderful male kept coming back to the same low bush for the next hour.
My boyhood dream fulfilled – and it certainly didn’t disappoint – I’d urge people to go sooner rather than later, for while it’s currently largely unchanged, agricultural changes may well occur now Poland is in the EU.
Peter Gibbon
SEVERN TRENT DRIVES PENN CARR IMPROVEMENTS
The area around Penn Carr, near Millfields, has been undergoing a facelift. Survey work indicated the bridge there was in a poor state, so it was removed and replaced by a stone track, which is much more user-friendly, particularly for horse riders, and involves much less maintenance for the rangers.
Two pools have been created next to the new track. Don’t worry if you sometimes see them drying out, as this is not always a bad thing. It may not be generally understood, but a large number of sometimes rare invertebrates and molluscs depend on such conditions, in which other creatures higher up the food-chain, such as predatory fish, cannot survive.
In addition, a number of male and female Black Poplar trees have been planted – both at Penn Carr and a number of other areas around the reservoir. Courtesy of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, cuttings were taken from Hilton Gravel Pits and grown on by the rangers for two years. Black Poplars are one of the country’s rarest trees, so it’s hoped they will do well. Other hedging plants – hawthorn, holly and hornbeam – have also been added, along with some oak trees, all grown from seed on site.
A mix of woodland flowers such as bluebells and ramsons has been seeded alongside the new track, and on the bare ground where the bridge was; it will be fascinating to see how this area develops.
It has been great to hear site users’ positive feedback. The team has had many questions about the woodland work undertaken during the winter to address where trees originally planted 20 years ago less than a metre apart were struggling to survive. Such dense planting was making them weaker and more prone to disease and infection, while little ground flora was able to develop as not much light reaches the floor.
Thinning them out by around 20 to 30 per cent allows greater competition, a varied age structure, and increased chance of ground flora, which means more nectar for invertebrates – which in turn means more food for the birds on site and an all-round healthier woodland. This work is done in direct consultation with the Forestry Commission and I hope we will all see the long-term benefits of this work in the coming years.
Keep recording the birds and help with the breeding bird surveys so, together, we can ensure Carsington Water continues to be a success – and thank you for this invaluable support.
Ben Young (Severn Trent Site Manager, Carsington)
WHAT’S ON …
Carsington Bird Club’s summer walks are under way, mostly around the reservoir, though a short trip toClumberPark is again being arranged to see nightjars. There is also a coach trip in June. Full event programme is:
17 June Evening walk from Sheepwash car park Starts7.30pm
21 June Coach trip to Lakenheath Fen/Weeting Heath (see enclosed booking slip)
15 July Nightjar walk atClumberPark, Nottinghamshire (make own way Starts8pm
and meet in National Trust car park)
16 July CBC committee meeting Visitor Centre,8pm
19 August Final summer evening walk from Visitor Centre Starts7pm
16 September First indoor talk: South Africa by Paul Bingham Hognaston Village Hall
(7.30pm)
Booking is often essential (c/o 01629 540696) for Severn Trent Water’s schedule of events, as below:
Every Tuesday Aren’t birds brilliant! at Carsington Water: Learn about the site’s Wildlife Centre
and Sunday exciting wildlife; just turn up and use the telescopes provided (10.30am-3.30pm)
8 June Aren’t birds brilliant! Family Fun Day (everything from quizzes Visitor Centre (10.30am-4pm)
mask-making to bird-watching/pond-dipping – some charges)
Marvellous Moths (close-up views of those found around res) Wildlife Centre (1.30pm)
21 June Sheepwash Spinners: Local experts demonstrate traditional wool Education Room, Visitor spinning, an important industry for Derbyshire Centre (11am-4pm)
6 July Birdwatching for Beginners (first come, first served to maximum Visitor Centre (10am-noon)
of 25; bring boots, suitable clothing, binoculars and notebook)
20-25 July NSSA national junior sailing regatta (for info see www.nssa.org.uk)
26 July Sheepwash Spinners (for details see June’s event above)
3 August Birdwatching for Beginners (for details see July event above)
Open Day withEnglandLadies Fly Fishing Association For info call 01629 540769
9 August Bat Safari (Derbyshire Bat Conservation Group leads an evening Millfields car park (8pm)
stroll in search of these unique creatures – £2.50, free parking)
30 August Sheepwash Spinners (details as above – but in Henmore Room)
6 September Wateraid Raft Race (charity donations; cheer on STW staff and Visitor Centre (11am-3pm)
contractors – also family activities/barbeque)
FURTHER REMINDER – 2008 MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS DUE
Renewal forms were sent out to the full 2007 membership with the last newsletter. Many have renewed, but there are still quite a few that have not. Please check with our membership secretaries (see contact details in the committee ‘box’ below) if you’re not sure or need to alert them to your wish to renew. Those who’ve not confirmed their membership before August will not receive that month’s issue of the newsletter.
NEW MEMBERS
Welcome to all new members who have joined since the New Year – namely: Andrew Brown, Weston-on-Trent; Chris Moult, Stoke-on-Trent; John & Fay Follett, Derby; Sally Packer, Alton; Dr John Payne, Holloway;Gillian Pittam, Swadlincote; Niall Sinnott, Matlock; Chris & Jane Swann, Mackworth; and Dave Williams, Kirk Ireton